Prominent crypto influencer Ben Armstrong, formerly known as ‘BitBoy,’ found himself in a legal predicament following a conspicuous arrest. The incident unfolded on September 25th when Armstrong was taken into custody while livestreaming outside the house of a former associate. He spent just over 8 hours in custody, as confirmed by the Gwinnett County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office.
Armstrong has now been released on bail but faces two charges: “loitering/prowling” and “simple assault by placing another in fear.” His bond has been set at $2,600 and $40 in fees.
In Georgia, loitering or prowling is described as being in a place at a time or in a manner not typical for law-abiding individuals under circumstances that provoke justifiable and reasonable alarm or immediate concern for the safety of people or property in the vicinity, according to the Georgia-based law firm Lawson & Berry. Consequences for this misdemeanor can include a fine of up to $1,000, jail time of up to one year, or both.
Simple assault, on the other hand, involves attempting to cause a violent injury to another person or committing an act that instills reasonable apprehension of imminent harm. It is generally treated as a misdemeanor in Georgia, though it can be escalated in some situations.
Following his release, Armstrong seemingly made light of the situation, sarcastically stating, “My name is Ben, and I’m a loiterer. I did eight whole hours in the prison.” He later announced a week-long break from social media, downplaying the influence of memes in his decision.
The incident that led to Armstrong’s arrest occurred when he visited the residence of his former associate, Carlos Diaz, whom he accused of possessing his Lamborghini. The livestream and ranting continued for approximately 19 minutes before local law enforcement arrived and took Armstrong into custody.
Crypto trader “EmperorBTC” shared his thoughts with his 360,000 followers, emphasizing that Armstrong’s arrest should be a lesson for everyone.
This legal episode is part of an ongoing dispute between Ben Armstrong and the Hit Network, which controls the “BitBoy Crypto” brand. The firm and its executives severed ties with Armstrong in August, citing concerns about substance abuse and employee financial harm.
